Peretz: Lebanon flights – legitimate

Monday, October 23, 2006 |
by Staff Writer

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said during the weekly cabinet meeting that the intelligence gathered in south Lebanon indicates a rebuilding of Hizballah and an increasing flow of weapons from Lebanon to Syria. “As long as these efforts are continuing, the reconnaissance flights of Israeli Air Force planes over Lebanon are legitimate.”

Peretz reacted to the words of the French defense minister and the UNIFIL commander saying that Israeli flights are considered hostile and could be fired upon, and said that they have no place being in Lebanon’s airspace. “The arrival of the UNIFIL force is to act against Hizballah, not against Israel. The security of Israel is a top priority. As long as resolution 1701 is not fully implemented, we have no intentions to stop the flights,” he said.

In reference to the situation in Syria, Peretz said that they are continuing to monitor the readiness levels of the Syrian army. “In Israel the readiness level was raised since the war and it is being examined continuously. Assad is continuing his doubletalk, and will be judged by his actions not by his words. He must divest himself from the sponsorship he gives the terror organizations,” Peretz said.

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